ACCORD Museum

Now a Civil Rights Museum, this building was originally a dentist's office.

ACCORD Museum

79 Bridge Street,
St. Augustine, FL 32084

Constructed in the 1950s

When African-American dentist and surgeon Dr. Rudolph N. Gordon built the building in the 1950s, 79 Bridge Street was dubbed the 'Rudcarlie Building' after his family members.

Here, Dr. Gordon operated the first racially integrated waiting room in St. Augustine, serving patients from all social classes and races. He established a free dental clinic for local children. Dr. Gordon and his wife (Mrs. Rosalie Gordon Mills) strongly supported the Lincolnville community and the Civil Rights Movement, promoting education and racial harmony through public service.

Dr. Gordon operated his practice until he passed away in 1959. Six years later, in 1965, Mrs. Rosalie Gordon-Mills ran for a spot on the St. Augustine City Council. She was the first Black woman to run for public office in the city and finished third in the final election.

Dr. Hayling's Dental Office

In 1960, Dr. Robert Bagner Hayling — a Tallahassee native and graduate of Maherry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee — took over the practice and began renting the building. The waiting room remained integrated, and Dr. Hayling was the sole dentist for inmates at the St. Johns County Jail (now the St. Johns County Jail Annex).

Dr. Hayling became involved in the St. Augustine Civil Rights Movement, and the dental practice became a meeting place. Under Dr. Hayling's leadership, local activists mobilized and planned demonstrations against racism. He was instrumental in gaining support from Dr. Martin Luther King and his advocacy group, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC).

Alongside local and out-of-town activists, Dr. Hayling protested segregated restaurants, motels, and plans to celebrate St. Augustine's 400th anniversary on an all-White basis. They faced constant threats to their lives. After Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964, national attention turned away from St. Augustine. Yet, bigotry and racism remained. In 1965, Dr. Hayling and his family left St. Augustine for better opportunities in the Cape Canaveral area and later Fort Lauderdale.

A Project for Remembrance

In 2002 — nearly 40 years after Dr. Martin Luther King visited St. Augustine in 1964 — a group of St. Augustine's prominent local activists founded a non-profit called ACCORD (Anniversary to Commemorate the Civil Rights Demonstrations, Inc.). Following the death of infamous activist Mrs. Katherine 'Kat' Twine, these dedicated citizens committed themselves to educating the public about the "heroes and she-roes" and changing the narrative that the civil rights movement was a horrible thing and its participants were criminals because they went to jail.

Since its founding, ACCORD has carried out several projects to commemorate local activists. From educational events and recognition services to print publications and street renamings — each of these fulfills their mission of "remembering, recognizing, and honoring all those who risked their lives to attain civil rights for all and celebrating St. Augustine's pivotal role in the Civil Rights Act of 1964."

Launched in 2007, the ACCORD Freedom Trail — a series of plaques that mark prominent locations of the St. Augustine Civil Rights Movement — is ACCORD's most expansive project to date. Completed in partnership with the Northrop-Grumman Corporation, this trail contains more than 30 plaques across St. Augustine and has gained international recognition for its interpretive power.

Founding of the ACCORD Civil Rights Museum

On July 2, 2014, the first civil rights museum in the state of Florida was founded by 40th ACCORD Inc. at 79 Bridge Street. Eighty-four years old at the time, Dr. Robert B. Hayling served as Senior Advisor for this effort. Along with Hayling's historic dental office, the ACCORD collection includes original images, books, videos, and other materials (even an iconic "FREEDOM" Hat worn by Mrs. Katherine Twine during protests).

Open by appointment only, the ACCORD museum is a valuable resource for learning about the struggles and triumphs of the St. Augustine Civil Rights Movement. Special events and walking tours are also available to visitors.